Stoppage time unkind as win turns to draw for Dynamo

Updated 11:33 pm, Friday, September 14, 2012

Brad Davis, right, gave the Dynamo a lead over Aurelien Collin and Eastern Conference-leading Sporting K.C. that proved to be short-lived.

Brad Davis, right, gave the Dynamo a lead over Aurelien Collin and Eastern Conference-leading Sporting K.C. that proved to be short-lived.

Photo: Jamie Squire

Stoppage time unkind as win turns to draw for Dynamo

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. - In soccer, as in life, perception can be everything.

Odds are that coming into Friday's match at Eastern Conference-leading Sporting Kansas City, the Dynamo would've gladly taken a draw and ran back home with it.

But as it played out, the 1-1 result had the same stinging sensation as a loss.

The Dynamo (12-7-10) led 1-0 thanks to a 58th-minute goal from Brad Davis and stellar goalkeeping from Tally Hall.

The lead - not to mention the victory - evaporated when Sporting's C.J. Sapong capitalized on one of numerous opportunities in the 93rd minute.

Sapong's first goal in three months set off the crowd of 19,877 at Livestrong Sporting Park and sent the Dynamo away with a bit of a sour taste in their mouths.

"It feels a little bit like a loss to give away a goal at the end there, but if it was 0-0 the whole time and we battled and got a tie, it wouldn't feel like a loss," said goalkeepers coach Tim Hanley.

Hanley managed the team Friday in place of coach Dominic Kinnear, who was serving a one-game suspension after being ejected from the Dynamo's previous match.

Friday's match ended just moments after Sapong's goal. That the match lasted that long in the first place was a bit of a mystery to Hanley.

More Information

Dynamo update

Friday: Dynamo 1, Sporting Kansas City 1.

Record: 12-7-10.

Thursday: vs. FAS, BBVA Compass Stadium 7 p.m.

TV/radio: Fox Soccer; 850 AM (Spanish).

"It's hard to give it up (in stoppage time). Four minutes is a lot of time. I'm not sure where that came from. I tried to find out and (the fourth official) told me to relax," Hanley said.

The draw almost certainly would've been a loss if not for Hall's array of acrobatic saves. He faced 28 shots - the MLS' high water mark this season - and finished with seven saves, many of which were worthy of a highlight reel.

Before the late drama, the Dynamo took advantage of a rare scoring opportunity early in the second half. Davis took a cross from Boniek Garcia and buried it in the back right corner to put the Dynamo up by a goal.

That came after Will Bruin let a prime scoring chance escape in the first half. He got behind the Sporting defense in the 42nd minute, but his shot was thwarted by a sliding challenge from Sporting keeper Jimmy Nielsen.

"We know what he's capable of with the ball at his feet," Hall said. "He doesn't shoot it but puts up a ball that comes up and down pretty quick. I'll give him credit. It's an amazing assist."

That assist cost Hall his 12th shutout of the season, and it cost the Dynamo a valuable two points in the push for the MLS playoffs.

"It's a performance we can be proud of. Obviously giving up a late goal is frustrating, but we move forward and take a lot of positives away," Hall said.